In situ UV-vis- and FT-IR-spectroscopy of electrochemically synthesized furan-thiophene copolymers

Electrochemical copolymerization of furan and thiophene was performed at constant electrode potential in a binary solvent system consisting of boron trifluoride-ethyl ether and an additional amount of ethyl ether (mole ratio 1:2). The homopolymers and copolymers obtained were studied with in situ UV-vis- and Fr-IR-spectroscopy. An electrochemical degradation mechanism for furan-thiophene copolymers in acetonitrile and in aqueous solution is proposed based on FT-IR spectroscopy data. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.